Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central has served out the six-month suspension slammed on her on March 6, 2025, over alleged gross misconduct and violation of Senate rules.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has relentlessly contested the suspension, claiming it is a direct consequence of her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The suspension barred the Kogi lawmaker from legislative activities, the National Assembly complex, and the use of official resources, but she has continued to contest it, asserting it is a politically motivated act.
In July, Akpoti-Uduaghan stormed the National Assembly complex in an attempt to enforce a judgment by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, she and her lawyers claimed, ordered the senate to recall her.
Court rules in favour of Natasha
Justice Nyako of the court, in a judgment on Friday, July 4, said that the six-month suspension that the Senate slammed on the Kogi lawmaker was “excessive”.
The court also faulted the Senate Standing Rules’ Chapter 8 and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act, stating that the two provisions were overreaching. The two legislative guidelines did not specify the maximum period of time that a sitting lawmaker can be suspended from office.
According to the judgment, the lawmakers only have a total of 181 days to hold their sitting in their legislative circle. Thus, the six months’ suspension handed to Senator Natasha was equivalent to denying her the chances of carrying out her responsibilities to her constituents within the legislative circle.
Court empowers Akpabio to sanction senators
According to the court, the Senate has the power to sanction any of its members for violation of standing rules, but such a sanction should not be excessive to the extent of depriving the constituents of the right to be represented.
Nevertheless, the ruling held that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had the legal status to deny Natasha, who was not in her official seat, which was allotted to her, the right to speak during plenary.
Also, the judge dismissed the Senate president’s contention that the court did not have the right to hear the matter, which he had described as the internal affairs of the Senate.
Ex-minister accuses FG of planning to jail Natasha
According to Legit.ng earlier report, that Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal tussle initiated by the federal government has commenced hearing at the Federal High Court.
Oby Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education, who witnessed the hearing on Thursday, June 19, said that the federal government asked the court to send the senator to prison.
However, the former minister disclosed that the court declined the prayer of the federal government lawyers and granted bail to Senator Natasha.
